The document discusses various factors that influence egg production in laying hens, including environmental conditions, breed, mortality rates, age, body weight, housing, lighting, and nutrition. Proper management of these factors is crucial for maximizing egg production and profitability, with specific recommendations on housing design and feeding practices to enhance laying performance. Additionally, culling practices and the impacts of climate on egg quality and production rates are highlighted.

1. FACTORS AFFECTING
EGG PRODUCTION
IN LAYERS

2. During the production cycle many factors influence egg
production, therefore, the cycle must be managed effectively and
efficiently in order to provide maximum output and profitability.
• ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING EGG
PRODUCTION
• Environment may be visualized at the surroundings in which a
bird is placed or conditions to which it is subjected.
• The expression of the potentialities of an animal including the
Avians ,is the sum of the responses of the animal Or bird to their
genetic makeup and their interaction with the environment in
which they are placed

3. The components of environment
• 1. climate
• 2. nutrition
• 3.shelter/housing
• 4.level of health
• 5.management
All the above factors combining affect the egg production

4. 1.Breed:
The breed of the laying bird influences egg production.
Management and feeding practices , however, are the key
determining features for egg production.
2.Mortality rate:
mortality rate may raise due to disease, predation or high
temperature.
• The mortality rate of small chicks (up to 8 weeks of age) is
about 4 %;
• that of growers (between 8 & 20 weeks of age) is about 15%;
• and that of layers (between 20 &72 weeks of age) is about 12%.
• The average mortality rate of flock is from 20 to 25% per year.

5. 3. Age:
birds typically begin production eggs in their 20 or 21 week and continue for
slightly over a year.
This is best laying period and eggs tend to increase in size until the end of
the egg production cycle.
Chick factors
• Layers are usually kept for 52 weeks. After this period, they undergo a stage
called moulting where they lose their feathers and stop producing eggs. Egg
production will start again in the second laying period after moulting, but
the eggs will be bigger, shells thinner and production lower.
• Older birds produce eggs with thin shells.
• Indigenous chickens do not lay as many eggs when compared to
commercial layers.

6. 4. Body weight:
•in general, optimum body weight during the laying period
should be around 1.5 kg , although this varies according to
breed.
• Underweight as well as overweight birds lay eggs at a lower
rate.
• Proper management and the correct amount of feed are
necessary in order to achieve optimum body weight.

7. 5.Laying house:
the laying house should be built according to local climatic
conditions and farmer’s finances.
A good house protects laying birds from theft, predation, direct
sunlight, rain, excessive wind, heat and cold, as well as sudden
changes in temperature and excessive dust.
if the climate is hot and humid, for example, the use of an open
house construction will enable ventilation. the inside of house
should be arranged so that it requires minimum labor and time to
care for the birds.

9. TYPES OF LAYING HOUSES
Open house type
Housing for hot - arid climates

10. Moveable type housing

11. 6.Lighting schedule:
• Egg production is stimulated by daylight; therefore, as the days grow
longer production increases.
• In open houses , found commonly in the tropics, artificial lighting
may be used to increase the laying period. When darkness falls
artificial lighting can be introduced for 2 to 3 hours, which may
increase egg production by 20 to 30 %.
• In closed house , where layers are not exposed to natural light, the
length of the artificial day should be increased either in one step, or in
a number of steps until the artificial day reaches 16 to 17 hours, which
will ensure constant and maximized egg production

12. • Effective day light should never decrease during the laying
period.
• When the lights are off, chickens do not eat and this results in
low egg production. Lights should be checked regularly and
cleaned so that they do not get dimmer.
• Bulbs should be changed when necessary
• Exposure to light for less than the minimum time required
results in a drop in egg production.
• When chickens are exposed to too much light, they reach
sexual maturity at an early stage and they lay very small eggs.

13. feed-range hens will produce more meat and eggs with
supplemental feed, but only if they are improved breeds or
crossbreeds. The selection of local hens is done on the basis of
resistance and other criteria rather than feed utilization for
production.
Fresh and clean water should always be provided, as a layer
can consume up tone-quarter of liter a day.

14. FEED-RELATED PROBLEMS
Not enough drinking water
Clean and cool water must always be available to avoid heat
stress. Lack of water results in reduced egg production.
No feed or decreased feed intake
Chickens tend to eat less when the feed is not tasty or when
they are stressed because of environmental temperatures,
especially when it gets too hot. Feed should be available at all
times.

15. Low calcium in the feed
• This result in few and smaller eggs, soft-shelled eggs, shell-less eggs,
cracked eggs, eggs losing colour and hens having leg problems.
• If calcium deficiency is suspected, take a feed sample to the laboratory
to check the calcium level.
• Commercial rations have calcium added. When mixing your own ration
make sure that calcium added is 3,5 %.
• If calcium deficiency is a problem, limestone grit should be given as a
top dressing at least twice a week at 5 gm /bird.

16. Low salt in the feed
• This results in a sharp decrease in egg production.
• Chickens will also start pecking each other and eating
feathers
• If salt deficiency is suspected, a sample of feed should be
taken to the laboratory to check the level of salt.
• Take care when mixing your own chicken ration at home.
Add the required quantity of salt, which is 0,4 %.

17. Culling
culling is the removal of undesirable(sick and /or
unproductive) birds, from the flock. There are two
method of culling:
. Mass culling, when the entire flock is removed and
replaced at the end of the laying cycle; and
. Selective culling, when farmer removes individual
unproductive or sick birds.
Culling enables a high level of egg production to be
maintained, prevents feed waste on unproductive
birds and may avert the spreading of diseases.

18. 9. Climate: the optimal laying temperature is between 11 and 26 degree centigrade.
A humidity level above 75% will cause a reduction in egg production in egg laying.
Temperature and its effects on egg production
When the temperature raises above 28° C degree centigrade the production and quality of
eggs decrease. Seasonal temperature increases can reduce egg production by about 10%.
Temperature ( C ) effects
11-26 Good production
26-28 Some reduction in feed intake
28-32 Feed consumption reduced and water intake
increased ,
Eggs of reduced size and thin shell
32-35 Slight panting
25-40 Heat prostration sets in ,measures to cool the house
must be taken
40 and above Mortality due to heat stress.

19. 10. Management factors:
effective and efficient management techniques are necessary to increase the
productivity of the birds and
consequently increase income.
This entails not only proper housing and feeding, but also careful rearing
and good treatment of the birds.

20. DISEASES
diseases
bacterial
metaboli
c
viral
parasitic